Hose-carriage



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. L. STOWE. HOSE CARRIAGE. No. 532,432. l `A.mlaien's'ed' "21111. 8v, 1895.

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HOSE CARRIAGE.

Patented Ja,n8,11895.

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B. L. STOWB. HOSE GARRIAGE.

No'. 532,432. Patented Jan. 8, 1895. y

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UNITED STATES "PATENT Ormel-3.

BENJAMIN L. S'IOWE, OF JERSEY CITY, JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,432, dated January 8, 1895.

I Application filed September 14,1894. Serial No. 522,962. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom may Concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN L. S'roWE,v

of hose wagons which carry not only the hose, ,y but the men and tools as well-the hose being laid in the bottom of the wagon. These wagons and reels have one serious disadvantage in common, Viz: Upon return from a tire, the hose, if wet, must be removed immediately from the reel or wagon, and laid out where it will be exposed tp the air and allowed to dry. Otherwise it will soon rot.

It is my object to provide a hose wagon in which the hose will hang suspended so that air can circulate through it; the rack from which it is suspended being so arranged that when an, end of hose is seized and carried away from the rack the bights or loops of hose by an outward pull will be successively released from the pins on which they hang and will fall from the rack. In this way the hose whenput back into the wagon after use, can dry in situ, and will `require no after removal from the wagon for that purpose, while at the same time the hose is always in position for instant use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of a hose wagon embodying my invention, in 'its preferred form. Fig. 3 is a plan partly in section, of one rack, with its central portion broken away and removed, and with the pins set at the right hand end in one, and'at the left hand end in the other, of the two positions which they can assume. Fig. 4. isa view oa modified form of rack, in which the rack pins point lengthwise of the wagon body, and not crosswise as in the preceding instance. Fig. 5 is 5o a vertical cross section of one of the racks in Fig. 4, illustrating in dotted lines, the guard in raised position, and the fake of hose as about to be placed on the pin.

In the hose wagon shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, there are four hose racks extending lengthwise of the wagon and parallel with each other. The Wagon body is provided with suitable vertical posts at its corners to support the racks at a proper elevation- V-whieh usually will be, say about siX feet or so.

Each hose rack consists of a frame comprising longitudinal parallel stringers A, end cross ties or spacing bolts B, together with such other devices as may be needed to give itstability; and the racks are assembled together as indicated in cross-section in Fig. 2, and are then tied together and to the body of the wagon by means suitable to give stability to the Structure.

In the rack each loop of hose is supported by two pins a placed in line with each other -'pins are so arranged that they swing only to one side of the line in which they stand when placed end to end. For this purpose the ears b oflugs b have one corner b2 rounded, this being the corner whichjs uppermost when the axes oi' the pins are horizontal, and the rounding being sufficient to allow the pins of each pair to swing up and back awayfrom each other, as indicated in Fig. 2. The other corner of the ear is square and against it abuts the lower square shoulder on the pin which is thus held from going below horizontal position. With the parts in this position vit is a simple operation to put a loop of hose in'place and hang it upon its pins. The operation is illustrated in Fig. 2 and requires no further explanation. With the loop thus placed, it will be seen that it will hold its place without any difficulty (assuming, of

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course that the lugs l) are kept in their position). 'Ihe only direction in which the pins can move is upward, and by the weight of the hose which they support they are restrained from any appreciable movement in that direction, even if the hose carriage on which the rack is be in rapid motion; but it will also be noted that the moment the swiveled lugs are turned from this position to one in which the axes of the pins are vertical-as at the left of Fig. 3-then the pins will be free to yield to any pull on them tending to move them in the one direction in which they can swing outwardly and away from each other. This direction in the hose wagon is toward the rear of the carriage, the object being to permit one of the crew to drop off from the carriage to the ground and by holding one end of hose, to draw the successive loops of that length of hose, off from their rack pins as the carriage moves forward.

It is desirable, and even necessary, for the uses for which the rack is more particularly intended, that the pin supportinglugs of each rack should be adjusted or turned simultaneously and together. Various means for this purpose may be employed and will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic. I prefer to provide each lug with a crank arm d fixed on the outer end of each lug axle d and united by a pin and slot connection t y to horizontal longitudinally movable bars e supported in end guides e in which they can slide, the two bars c required for the two opposite sets of lugs of each rack, being united together at each end by a cross bar f which serves as a handle. The bars e f form in effeet, a rectangular sliding frame; and by pushing this trame in one direction or the other, the lugs l) will be turned accordingly. The lugs require to make only a quarter revolution and the throw of the adjusting frame is of course correspondingly limited. Longitudinal guide rods g secured to the vertical end posts B are provided to prevent any loops from slipping sidewise over upon either one of the lugs b of its supporting pins.

In some cases, I may use only one pin for each hose loop the pin being of sufficient length to take the loop; but I prefer the two pin arrangement illustrated in the drawings.

In the foregoing illustration of my invention, the pins which hold the loops of hose, stand or point crosswise of the body of the wagon. I can, however have them point lengthwise of the wagon. Such an arrangement is indicated in Fig. 4. Here the rack stringers A extend crosswise of the wagon body and in their rear faces, or those toward the rear of the wagon, are inserted at suitable intervals apart, the horizontal pins a upon which the loops of hose are placed-the open or free ends of the pins pointing to the rear.

To prevent the loops of hose from slipping rearwardly oit from their pins,a hinged guard, consisting of a cross strip G and supporting arms H hinged at h to the Stringer A, is provided foreach rack. This guard when turned down, stands in front of the outer end of the pins and prevents the hose loops from escaping. lVhen the guard is turned up away from the pins, the hose can be got at and removed without difficulty. Under this arrangement the pins themselves are stationary and do not require to be hinged.

In conclusion I remark that a hose rack having pins movable outwardly so as to render successive loops of hose suspended therefrom, is not here claimed by me, the same, in several of its forms, being the subject of prior applications for Letters Patent in my name, viz: Serial No. 513,821, filed June 7, 1894:, and Serial No. 522,738, filed September, 1894, respectively on which Letters Patent will issue `of even date herewith.

I also desire'it to be understood that I do not confine my claims to the speciiic instrumentalities hereinbefore illustrated and described, for manifestly the saine can be widely varied without departure `from my invention. I believe myself to be the first to devise a hose wagon in which the hose is suspended vertically in a series of loops; and nwhich those successive loops, while held in place against accidental displacement, are so placed as to render themselves readily, when the hose is subjected to an1cutward pull.

What I therefore claim,` and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A hose wagonv provided with a hosesupporting rack or racks, for receiving loops of hose, the rack piwns, from which said loops hang, being formed and arranged to render the successive loops toward therear of the carriage, when the hosetis pulled upon, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. A hose wagon provided withone or more hose racks for receiving loops of hose, the rack-pins, from which said loops hang, being formed and arranged to render to the rear the successive loops when the hose is` subjected to outward pull,in` combination with means whereby the loops may be held in engagement with their pins, when the hose is not required for use, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a hose wagon, the combination with the wagon body, of a hose rack supported in elevated position thereon and provided with cross pins movable outwardly ortoward the rear of the Wagon to release or render the bights of hose hung upon them, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. In a hose wagon, the combination with the wagon body, of a hose-rack supported in elevated position thereon and provided with pivotedcross pins movable outwardly or toward the rear of the carriage to release or render the bights of hose hung upon them, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

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for the purpose of rendering the loops or fakes of hose hung upon them; and means Y' for adjusting or turning the swiveled lugs I5 simultaneously, and together, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forthl VIn testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

\ BENJAMIN L. STOWE.

Witn esses:

NATHAN S'roWE, EVELYN NORRIS. 

